# Run a validator [Join the node operator room](https://matrix.to/#/#liberland-node:matrix.org) ## Introduction This guide will walk you through the process of setting up a new validator on Liberland Chain. [You can follow along a outdated but still workingvideo here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV0fK1eqSZY) Note: * *DO NOT* expose your validators RPC ports (9933 and 9944 by default) publicly on the internet. Treat validators with more care than full nodes. * You *do not* need to a run a validator to earn LLD staking rewards. As a user you can simply become a nominator and stake your coins without needing to run a validator. ## Requirements * \~30 GB of free disk space * 4GB of RAM, but swap is ok, see [How to add swap](https://www.cloudsigma.com/adding-swap-space-on-ubuntu-20-04-a-tutorial/) if you have less than 4GB of RAM * Liberland wallet with at least 200 LLD. [Ask to be onboarded](https://matrix.to/#/#liberland-node:matrix.org) * [PolkadotJs wallet](https://polkadot.js.org/extension/) * [On-chain citizenship](https://docs.liberland.org/blockchain/for-citizens/onboarding) ## Claim on-chain citizenship * You will need your LLD, LLM, and an onchain citizenship to proceed. Follow the [Onboarding](https://docs.liberland.org/blockchain/for-citizens/onboarding) steps to proceed. * At the end of this process, you should have a wallet, and a funded citizen account on the mainnet. Log into [blockchain.liberland.org](https://blockchain.liberland.org/signin) with your liberland account to verify everything works so far. ## Recommended servers If self hosting is not practical, the up-to-date current order of recommended virtual server providers are ### Option 1: AWS Lightsail [Go to AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/) and create an account. * In search, type lightsail * Under Instances, click Create instance * Select Linux/Unix, OS Only, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, scroll down and select the plan with at least 4 GB RAM, 1 vCPU and 60gb SSD * Scroll down and click on "Create instance" * Wait for a few minutes for a server to initialize * Click on the console icon on your instance to open a in-browser console * Follow the installation steps of this guide ### Option 2: Digital Ocean [Set up a digital ocean server](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV0fK1eqSZY) ## Installation ### Option 1: automatic script This script is for Ubuntu and Debian servers. If you're not running Ubuntu or Debian, please contact dev team - they can add support for your distribution. Run the following command on your server: ``` curl -sSLO https://raw.githubusercontent.com/liberland/liberland_substrate/main/substrate/scripts/install/install.sh bash install.sh ``` The script will ask you for confirmation before every action. It will: * install dependencies * download Liberland node * setup a systemd service, so that the node starts automatically * configure time synchronization * generate session keys for use in next step * The script gives the node time to start up, if it takes too long it will exit. If that happens, just wait a minute and run the script again. * If everything goes OK, you will see something like this: ``` Your node is now running. Useful commands: Check status: sudo systemctl status liberland-validator Stop: sudo systemctl stop liberland-validator Start: sudo systemctl start liberland-validator Logs: sudo journalctl -u liberland-validator Node data is stored in /opt/liberland/data. Session keys for your node: [long text starting with 0x here] ``` * Copy the session keys, you will need them when adding validator. * If something went wrong and you need to get session keys manually, see [Regenerating session keys](https://github.com/liberland/docs/blob/master/blockchain/for-validators-nominators-and-stakers/regenerate_session_keys.md). ### Option 2: using docker See [Docker guide](https://docs.liberland.org/blockchain/for-developers-and-testers/docker). ### Option 3: manually using prebuilt binaries See [Using prebuilt binary](https://github.com/liberland/docs/blob/master/blockchain/for-validators-nominators-and-stakers/using_prebuilt_binary.md) ### Option 4: using source See [Using source](https://github.com/liberland/docs/blob/master/blockchain/for-validators-nominators-and-stakers/using_source.md) ## Wait for your node to sync Monitor logs of your node. While syncing, you will see `Syncing` messages and lots of `maybe_release ran all the way` messages. When synced, `maybe_release ran all the way` will mostly disappear and you will see mostly `Idle` and `Imported` messages. This process will take a few seconds for every day the blockchain has been running - so expect a few hours. ## Add validator > Note that in order to do this step you will need some LLD, so ask someone to give you some if you dont already have it. 1. Visit Staking in Liberland dAPP: * [Mainnet](https://blockchain.liberland.org/home/staking) * [Bastiat (Testnet)](https://testnet.liberland.org/home/staking) 2. Click "Switch to validator" button. 3. Set your commission (20 is fine) and session keys you got from installation step to `Keys from rotateKeys` form. * Note: if you lost your session keys, see [Regenerating session keys](https://github.com/liberland/docs/blob/master/blockchain/for-validators-nominators-and-stakers/regenerate_session_keys.md) 4. Click "Start validator" button and sign the transaction. 5. Optionally, click on add stake and stake some LLDs ## Verify Immediately after adding validator, you should see it as "Waiting": Now you have to wait to see if it gets elected to current set of validators. You may need to wait until new era starts and then the chance of being elected is based on the amount of staked LLD. To see current set of validators: 1. Visit Staking Accounts on Polkadot.js Apps: * [Mainnet](https://polkadotjs.blockchain.liberland.org/?rpc=wss%3A%2F%2Fmainnet.liberland.org#/staking/actions) * [Bastiat (Testnet)](https://polkadotjs.blockchain.liberland.org/?rpc=wss%3A%2F%2Ftestchain.liberland.org#/staking/actions) 2. Click "All validators" button. 3. Click "Active" button. 4. You should see list of active validators in the "Validators" table. ## Optional: add nominators [Join the node operator room](https://matrix.to/#/#liberland-node:matrix.org) Once your validator is up and running and you have a solid track record of no downtime you can ask other LLD holders to nominate your validator node. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.liberland.org/blockchain/for-validators-nominators-and-stakers/run-a-validator.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.